SUMMIT HILL, Pa. — The Carbon County Environmental Education Center in Summit Hill is the place to go to connect with nature and wildlife.

Chief Naturalist Susan Gallagher says she started as an intern in 1988, then joined the team full-time the following year, “So I have been here quite a while, but the center has been here longer. The center was established, from what we can tell from looking at documents, in October of 1985. We are very excited to celebrate 40 years.”

Naturalist Franklin Klock started at the center 32 years ago, eager to learn and share his knowledge about wildlife and the environment with the community. “I’ve always been an extrovert and talk to people, and that helped me fit really well here because it’s a necessity. A lot of people ask questions, and I love the education part of it,” he said.

To mark the four-decade milestone, the center has set up a wall where past and present staff and volunteers can come sign their names.

Rachel Taras of Lehigh Township says she has lots of fond memories, “I was lucky enough to have two parents with a passion for Mother Nature, so both my mom and dad were volunteers and brought me as a pipsqueak when I was in elementary school.”

“Some of these people we haven’t seen for 20 years, and they’ve all moved on and have families, and some stayed in the industry doing the same jobs, just moved on, and they are taking the legacy that we’ve built here and expanded it into other areas,” said Klock.

The environmental education center will host a 40th anniversary celebration this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

“We encourage them if they don’t know who we are to come out just for a visit. We have quite a few activities, everything is free to the public, and we have a few activities, so if there is something particular that you’re interested you can learn more about the programs,” said Gallagher.

For details on the celebration or other programs, click here.